Real Madrid suffer huge injury blow ahead of Liverpool clash as Ancelotti reveals "serious" issue

Real Madrid have suffered a major injury blow ahead of their Champions League clash with Liverpool, according to Carlo Ancelotti.

Liverpool are ninth in the Premier League, some seven points from a Champions League spot, and 21 points adrift of Arsenal in top spot.

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp’s side are out of both domestic competitions and face La Liga giants Real Madrid in the last 16 of the Champions League, in a repeat of last season’s final.

Liverpool go into the crucial tie with a series of long-standing injury issues, however. Indeed, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz have been out for a sustained period of the season while first-choice centre-back Ibrahima Konate is a doubt for the Champions League tie.

However, Madrid have injury problems of her own.

Real Madrid’s injury blow

On Thursday Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema and Brazilian centre-back Eder Militao were forced off during Madrid’s 2-0 win over Valencia.

Benzema, who withdrew from France’s World Cup squad through injury, pulled up on the hour mark and limped off the pitch.

Earlier in the game, Militao was also forced off. The Brazilian fell to the turf in agony clutching his right groin and was subsequently substituted after just 36 minutes.

Ancelotti allayed fears that Benzema would miss the Liverpool clash, though suggested Militao faced a more prolonged spell on the sidelines.

"Benzema is nothing major. The injury to Militao is more serious. [He] will not be available at the weekend against Mallorca," the Italian said, via the Liverpool Echo.

Militao is a key cog in Los Blancos' back four, having missed just three La Liga outings this term.

As the Madrid boss admitted, he won’t be available for their trip to Mallorca while the timeframe of his absence is uncertain.

Elsewhere, Ferland Mendy has been ruled out until April, yet Dani Carvajal and Aurelien Tchouameni have been welcomed back to the squad following enforced time away.

Topics: Football, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Karim Benzema, Carlo Ancelotti, Jurgen Klopp, Champions League

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.